Machine for loading cartons



Dec. 27, 1960 P. c. GALLAGHER 2,966,017

MACHINE FOR LOADING CARTONS Filed April 14, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 27, 1960 Filed April 14, 1958 P. c. GALLAGHER MACHINE FOR LOADING CARTONS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 AT TORNEYS.

Dec. 27, 1960 P. c. GALLAGHER 2,966,017

MACHINE FOR LOADING CARTONS Filed April 14, 1958 r 4 Sheets-Sheet s ATTORNEYS.

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Dec. 2 7, 1960 Filed April 14, 1958 P. C. GALLAGHER MACHINE FOR LOADING CARTONS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 vmroe: M 15% ar /m' ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent MACHINE FOR LOADING CARTONS Paul C. Gallagher, 513 S. 38th St., Omaha, Nebr.

Filed Apr. 14, 1958, Ser. No. 728,223

8 Claims. (Cl. 53-62) This invention relates to an apparatus for filling cases, e.g. cardboard cartons, with packages such as cans, jars, cylindrical containers or the like. The apparatus is adapted automatically to place the packages in the carton in orderly stacks.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a rugged, simplified machine whereby the packages are preliminarily aligned in stacks and then slid into the carton automatically with the aid of guide means.

In a preferred form of the invention the apparatus consists of a pair of opposed spaced lifting plates to which the packages are fed in horizontally-disposed rows. A conveyor below the plates is provided to advance open cartons between the plates. The plates are adapted to tilt upwardly on hinged ends to orient the rows through 90 into vertical stacks and slide them into the carton. A vertically-movable divider is mounted above the carton between said lifting plates and is adapted to descend into the carton. The divider consists of a plurality of compartments which form chutes to keep the packages in each stack aligned as they slide from the elevated lifting plates into the carton. Each plate loads onehalf carton simultaneously, or can be arranged to carry more on one side than the other if the carton being filled contains an odd number of rows.

The invention lies in the arrangement and cooperation of the various parts from which the machine is made to provide an efficient and rapid mechanism for stacking and placing the cans in the cartons automatically.

In the drawings which illustrate a preferred form of my invention (showing the filling of a carton with cylindrical cans):

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the entire machine;

Figure 2 is a top view of a filled carton showing the cans in place and a section through the divider which guides the stacks of cans during their descent into the carton;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 66 of Figure 1, showing the loaded carton and the divider; and

Figure 7 is a schematic wiring diagram for the switches 46, 87 which cooperate to actuate the lifting plates.

The base of the machine consists of a horizontal support member or table 10 which has an opening 14 in the center thereof. The opening is rectangular or square and corresponds substantially to the size of the carton which is to be filled. Normally the cartons are rectangular. Preferably, the opening 14 through the table is slightly larger all the way around than the open end of the carton to facilitate loading. The table 10 is supported by means of angle iron legs 12 which are se-- ice cured to the floor. A pair of lifting plates 16, 18 are hingedly secured to the table 10 as indicated at 20, 22 (Figure 4). It will be noted that the hinges are mounted at the margin of the opening 14 on the opposed longer sides of the opening. By hinging the mounting plates in this manner they are free to tilt upwardly toward the opening 14 for directing cans thereon into a carton placed therebeneath. The plates 16 and 18 may have arcuate cut-out portions 17 and 19 in the lower edge thereof which are shaped to the general curvature of the can which is to be loaded into the carton. The arcuate edge assists in maintaining alignment of stacks of cans. For packages of other shapes the cut'out portion will match the contour of the particular package. Along the longitudinal sides of the lifting plates 16, 18 guards or fences 24, 26 are provided to prevent the cans from rolling off the plates. The guards shown in the drawing are made from angle irons but may be made from any suitable material which is sufficiently high above the surface of the plate to retain the cans thereon.

A wing panel 30 is fastened to a longitudinal edge of the table opposite the opening 14, with its outer edge elevated, for guiding the flaps on the carton beneath the table. A pair of guides 28, 29 hinged adjacent the width dimensions of the opening 14 act as a funnel to guide the cans through the opening 14 into the carton beneath. Coil spring 32 is secured to the guide 28 to bias it toward the table and permit the carton to pass beneath the inner edge of the guides. Divider 72, when in operative position, tilts the guides against the force of the springs 32 to the position shown in Figures 1 and 6.

A pair of rails 34, 36 are slightly spaced from the underside of the table and secured thereto for guiding the cartons beneath the opening 14 and keeping the flaps out of the opening. These rails run with the length of the opening 14 on either side thereof and transversely of the table 10.

A pair of switch mounting boards 38, 40 are provided on either side of the table 10 adjacent the lifting plates 16, 18 and carry microswitches connected in series which are actuated by cans disposed on the lifting plates. When the lifting plates are loaded, each of the microswitches is depressed by the first can in each row, thus completing an electrical circuit to a solenoid operated air cylinder which actuates the lifting plates as described hereinafter. The filled cans have sulficient momentum in rolling onto the plate to push cans ahead into the position shown in Figure 3. The plates 38 and 40 are secured to the top of the table by means of brackets 48 and 50 or any other suitable means. To insure transmission of force from the cans to the microswitches, I have provided fiat fingers 42, hinged to table 10 between the edge of the lifting plates and the mounting boards 38, 40. The free end of each finger is pushed against its microswitch by the first can in each row as the last can in the row rolls onto the lifting plates. In the drawing three cans fill the width of the lifting plate snugly, but it may be designed for more or less depending upon the size of the cans and the number required to fill the carton. Each lifting plate is large enough to hold the total number of rows to be fed from one side. The machine is adaptable for loading from one to forty-eight cans, in accordance with their size.

For lifting the free ends of the lifting plates 16 and 18 toward the central opening 14 in the table 10 I have provided a pair of hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders 52, 54. The shaft connected to the piston of the cylinder is pivotally connected to the underside of the plates 16 and 18 through openings 21, 23 therein, as indicated at 56, 58, respectively (Figure 4). The lower end of the cylinder is pivotally secured to the floor or the frame 3 of the machine. The cylinders are actuated by means of solenoid operated valves which are in the circuit with the microswitches 46. (See Figure 7.) Consequently, the plates cannot beelevated until each of the eight "microswitches, four for each lifting plate, are depressed.

This insures complete filling of each carton since the plates will not lift until full. Also in serieswith switches 46 is a switch 87 mounted on arm 81 depending from above the machine. It is actuated by cam 85 when the divider 72 is in operative position. Hence the plates cannot lift until the divider is properly positioned.

A holding switch 61 is mounted in the base -beneath the plate 16 and is connected to solenoid 106, which actuates the gate 100. A similar switch is mounted beneath the plate 18 at the other end of the apparatus. When the plate is elevated from its normal position in contact with the table 10 the switch is closed and thegate 100 is elevated to hold the cans on the tracks, as mentioned hereinafter.

Another microswitch 110 is mounted on a bracket 112 and is actuated by the plate 18 as it reaches the top of "its stroke to cause retraction of divider 72 and return of plates 16 and 18 by reversing the fluid-flow in cylinders 52, 54. 7 V

A conventional conveyor 62 is disposed beneath the table running transversely thereof and in alignment with the opening 14. Cartons 64 to be filled are placed on the belt of the conveyor and are advanced intermittently beneath the opening 14 in the table. The cartons 64 have 1 four cover flaps 66 provided in pairs at opposite sides of the open end and these must be turned outwardly -to facilitate filling. Thus, as the carton is advanced by means of the conveyor beneath the table 10, the flaps '66 are urged by means of the guide 30 into the slot between the underside of the table 10 and the rails 34, 36. The lead flap is pulled forward by hook means (not shown) just prior to passing beneath the rails. Simultaneously the carton is turned slightly askew by a projecting arm '39 (Figure 1) to cause the lead flap to run beneath the rail 36. By the time the carton reaches its final position beneath opening 14 it is once again aligned. The advance of the conveyor is arrested when the clutch (not shown) completes one revolution.

A divider 72 is provided to assist in guiding the stacked cans from the elevated lifting plates into the carton, and consists of a head 80 from which depend crossed vertical panels, which may be made from sheet metal. The panel 74 is aligned with the longitudinal center line of the head, while two transverse panels 76 and 78 extend through panel 74 to form three separate compartments or elongated chutes on each side of panel 74. The panels 74,

76 and 78 are secured to the head 80 by means of brackets 82 or in any other suitable fashion. Extending from the top of the head 80 is a shaft 84 which in turn connects to the piston 86 of a hydraulic cylinder serving to raise and lower the divider 72 (Figure 6). The length of the panels '74, 76, 78 is about twice'the height of the carton 64. The divider 72 may be touching the bottom of the carton with ample space extending above the top 1 edge thereof to accommodate the stacks of cans that are dropped from the lifting plates 16, 18 when in elevated position. The cylinder 86 may be secured to the ceiling or to some rigid structure connected therewith and is mounted directly above the opening 14.

A cam 85 is secured to arm 84 and is adapted to deperss the switch 83 (as Well as, switch 87) mounted on arm 81 depending from the rigid structure above the machine from which the divider 72 is suspended. Switch 83 closes the circuit to the conveyor motor, thus causing the conveyor to advance a new carton beneath opening 14 when the divider is in retracted position. When in lowered position, the cam closes switch 87 to complete the circuit for elevating the lifting plates.

The divider 72 is lowered when an empty carton strikes switch 37 mounted beneath rail 34 (Figure '3). This initiates a newcycle.

Track assemblies 90, 92 are disposed adjacent the lifting plates 16, 18 respectively, to feed cans to the plates. Each of the track assemblies 90, 92 accommodates four rows of cans--one track for each. It will be understood that this number is not critical but can be varied to meet the quantities to be handled by the machine. Each track assembly is made up of four pairs of spaced angle irons 94 which form the tracks per se. The angle irons of adjacent tracks are secured together back to back and are supported by means of a suitable framework resting on the floor and not shown in the drawing. The track assemblies are inclined at about 10 to 15 The cans 70 to 'be loaded in the cartons 64 roll down the tracks by gravity, as indicated in Figure 3, and at the bottom are arrested by means of a gate 100. The construction of the track assembly on each side of the machine is identical, 'of course. The gate .100 extends above the plane of the tracks to a sufiicientextent toprevent the cans from rolling onto the plates 16, 18 when in elevated position. The gate 100 is mounted on a pair of arms 102 which are pivotally connected to'the underside of the tracks, as indicated at 104. A solenoid 106 is secured to the arms 102 and serves to lift the gate in response to holding switch 61. Thus, the cans cannot roll off the track unless the lifting plates are in position to receive them. In order to prevent the cans from hopping over the gate in'the event that they are rolling with considerable momentum, a retainer 96 is mounted on brackets 98 just above the discharge end of the tracks and extending transversely thereof. The height of the retainer above the tracks is suificient to permit clearance of the cans but only when the gate .100 is lowered.

Other means may be provided for supplying packages to the lifting plates. For example, they may be pushed onto the plates in those instances where the packages do not'roll. Further, the packages may be loaded from the end rather than from the side of plates 16, 18.

in operation, the cans are fed onto the'track assemblies 0, 92 from a conveyor line (not shown) by means which does not comprise part of this invention. At this point the carton 64 is in position beneath opening 14 and the divider 72 is in operative position within the carton. The switch 87 is depressed. Four rows of cans are accom- ,modated by each of the track assemblies 90, 92 and these supply the cans to the lifting plates 16 and 18, respectively. The gate 108 is lowered when plates 16 and 18 contact the microswitches 61. Cans 70 roll by gravity from the tracks onto the plate. When three cans are snugly positioned on the plate, microswitch 46 becomes depressed. There is one switch for each of the rows of cans. When all eight switches are depressed and the switch 87 is depressed, the circuit is completed to actuate the lifting cylinders 52, 54. Elevation of the plates causes release of the holding switch 61 to raise the gate 109. As the gate 100 rises, the first can on the track,

which is in contact with the last can on the plate, is pushed back slightly to permit the plate to rise Without interference.

As the free ends of the lifting plates are elevated, the

' stacks of cans are oriented to verticalposition and thrown into contact with the divider 72 from both sides.

The chutes formed by cross panels 76, 78 of the divider 72 serve to keep the cans in straight stacks and guide them down into the carton 64. The lower end of the divider 72 extends close to the bottom of the carton so that carton. As the plate 18 reaches its final elevated position it contacts switch 110 mounted on a bracket 112 secured to the table 10. This causes divider 72 to be lifted from the carton and simultaneously causes the cylinders 52, 54 to reverse the direction of the lifting plates.

As the divider 72 is raised, the arm 85 on rod 84 closes the switch 83 which causes the conveyor to move, thereby moving the filled carton out from beneath opening 14 and an empty carton into place. The switch 83 actuates the conveyor clutch (not shown) which is of the single revolution type. When it completes one revolution, it disengages, thus advancing the cartons a predetermined distance calculated to align the next empty carton with the opening 14. When the empty carton strikes switch 37, the divider 72 is caused to lower into the carton.

Meanwhile, the lowering of the lifting plates actuates switches 61 to lower the gates 100 and refill the plates with cans. The plates do not move upwardly again until they are full, as indicated by depression of each microswitch 46 and the depression of switch 87 by the descending divider. The cycle then is repeated.

The control circuits and actuating mechanism are not shown in detail because they are conventional and are not in any way critical with respect to the present invention. Many different control systems may be devised to insure the proper sequence of operations, all of which are suitable for use with the invention.

In an alternative form of the invention one or both of the lifting plates 16, 18 may be double decked to handle twice as many packages. In such case the feed tracks would also have to be provided in duplicate to feed each of the decks of the lifting plates.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that I have provided a sturdy, efiicient machine for loading cans or other packages into cartons or cases. Other modifications of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims. The specific form of the invention illustrated herein is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit my invention.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for filling an open-ended carton with packages which comprises a horizontal frame member defining a rectangular opening, carton support means beneath said opening, a pair of lifting plates hinged to said frame member at opposed margins of said opening for pivotal movement toward each other, said plates having vertical side walls and at least one open end adjacent said opening means for elevating the remote free ends of said plates, a vertically partitioned divider member of substantially greater height than the height of said carton mounted above said opening for vertical movement therethrough, said divider member cooperating with said lifting plates to guide stacks of packages dumped from said lifting plates into said carton, means for raising and lowering said divider member from and into said carton, and means for feeding said packages in orderly rows onto said lifting plates.

2. An apparatus for filling an open-ended carton with packages which comprises a horizontal table having an opening therethrough slightly larger than the open end of said carton, conveyor means beneath said table for advancing cartons to a position beneath said opening, a pair of lifting plates hinged to said table at opposed margins of said opening for pivotal movement toward each other, said plates having vertical side walls and at least one open end adjacent said opening means for elevating the remote free ends of said plates, a vertically partitioned divider member of substantially greater height than the height of said carton mounted above said opening for vertical movement therethrough, said divider member cooperating with said lifting plates to guide stacks of packages dumped from said lifting plates into said carton, means for raising and lowering said divider member from and into said carton, and means for feeding the packages in orderly rows onto said lifting plates.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the discharge ends of said lifting plates have a cut-out portion of the approximate contour of the packages for each stack of packages to be dumped therefrom.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said divider is approximately twice the height of said carton and is made from relatively thin material which defines chutes leading to the bottom of said carton.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the opposed margins of said opening adjacent said hinged lifting plates are equipped with outwardly inclined guide panels for funneling the stacks of packages on either side of the lifting plates into the carton.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means for feeding packages comprises inclined tracks mounted adjacent said lifting plates for causing packages to advance by gravity from said tracks onto said lifting plates, said tracks being disposed at right angles to the direction in which said lifting plates move in dumping the packages.

7. An apparatus for filling an open-ended carton with cans and the like which comprises a horizontal table having an opening, carton support means beneath said opening, a pair of lifting plates hinged to said table at opposed margins of said opening for pivotal movement toward each other, means for elevating the free ends of said plates, means for feeding the cans in orderly rows onto said lifting plates, a plurality of electrical switches, one for each of said rows, mounted on said table beside the lifting plates opposite said feed means and connected in series to electrical actuating means for said elevating means, whereby said switches are depressed by the first can in each said row to cause elevation of said lifting plates only when each row is full and every switch is closed, a vertically partioned divider member mounted above said opening for vertical movement therethrough, said divider member cooperating with said lifting plates to guide stacks of cans dumped from said lifting plates into said carton, and means for raising and lowering said divider member from and into said carton.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 which also includes a switch, responsive to movement of said divider member, in series with said switches for each row, thus insuring proper location of said divider within the carton before the lifting plates are actuated.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,688,406 Tiffany Oct. 23, 1928 1,874,669 Wagner Aug. 30, 1932 1,907,539 Hartmann May 9, 1933 2,206,279 Ferguson July 2, 1940 2,364,113 Van Roo Dec. 5, 1944 2,620,961 Wahl et a1. Dec. 9, 1952 2,652,960 Fahey et al Sept. 22, 1953 2,738,630 Scholtz Mar. 20 1956 

